SLIDESHOW: Governor Awards $125,000 Grant To Create Microenterprise Center in Downtown Framingham

Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito were in Framingham Thursday morning to officially award Framingham a $125,000 grant to create a micro-enterprise center in Framingham.

The Baker-Polito administration announced the Urban Agenda Grant earlier this week. The new grant program, created by the Baker-Polito Administration, empowers urban communities to advance employment and economic opportunity by providing flexible grant funding that supports creative local partnerships and capitalizes on local economic opportunities.

An $125,000 Urban Agenda Grant was awarded to the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC), in partnership with SMOC Financial Services, the Town of Framingham, Framingham Downtown Renaissance, Framingham State University, MetroWest Legal Services, Middlesex Savings Bank, MutualOne Bank, MassBay Community College, the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce, and the Brazil New England Chamber of Commerce.

The grant will ”launch a one-stop micro-enterprise center here in Framingham and to have that become what I would describe sort of as a focus for new ideas and big ideas and business opportunities for folks here in this community,” Gov. Baker said Thursday at SMOC headquarters.

The Center will focus on helping helping Veterans, women, immigrants, minorities, and individuals with disabilities start or expand their business.

The Baker-Polito administration awarded $3 million in grants to 16 economic development, planning, and housing development initiatives, across 13 communities.

***

Photos courtesy of Janet Leombruno